US4426102A - Automatically fastening seatbelt system - Google Patents

Automatically fastening seatbelt system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US4426102A
US4426102A US06/325,926 US32592681A US4426102A US 4426102 A US4426102 A US 4426102A US 32592681 A US32592681 A US 32592681A US 4426102 A US4426102 A US 4426102A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
webbing
vehicle
occupant
seatbelt system
anchor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US06/325,926
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mitsuaki Katsuno
Shigeru Moriya
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyota Motor Corp
Original Assignee
Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toyota Motor Corp filed Critical Toyota Motor Corp
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment TOYOTA JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: KATSUNO, MITSUAKI, MORIYA, SHIGERU
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4426102A publication Critical patent/US4426102A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/04—Passive restraint systems, i.e. systems both applied and removed automatically, e.g. by movement of the vehicle door

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an automatically fastening seatbelt system wherein webbings for restraining an occupant is automatically fastened about the occupant upon his entering a vehicle, thereby improving the safety of the occupant in the event of an emergency situation of the vehicle.
  • the present invention has been developed to obviate the disadvantages of the prior art and has as its object the provision of an automatically fastening seatbelt system wherein two portions of a shoulder webbing and a lap webbing are driven by a single motor, enabling to facilitate the actions of the occupant entering and leaving the vehicle.
  • the automatically fastening seatbelt system is constructed such that a driving force of a motor is imparted to either one of a sprocket wheel for driving a guide arm or an anchor of a webbing for moving the intermediate portion of the webbing, and a rotational force of the motor is imparted as a rotational force of a rotary shaft to the other, i.e., the sprocket wheels or the anchor of the webbing, whereby two portions of the shoulder webbing and the lap webbing are driven.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the automatically fastening seatbelt system according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side view showing the driver's seat in FIG. 1 in looking from the rear of the vehicle;
  • FIG. 3 is a front view showing the guide rail
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a front view showing the sprocket housing
  • FIG. 6 is a disassembled perspective view showing the state of engagement of the sprocket wheel with the flexible tape.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the state of connection between the guide arm and the motor.
  • an occupant seated at a seat 10 is adapted to be fastened thereabout with an outer webbing 12 and an inner webbing 14.
  • One end of the outer webbing 12 is engaged with a buckle device solidly secured to the lower rear portion of a door 18 through a tongue plate 16.
  • This buckle device 20 is provided with a release button 22, with which the occupant can release the engagement of the tongue plate 16 in the event of an emergency situation of the vehicle.
  • the other end portion of the outer webbing 12 is engaged with a shoulder anchor 26 through a connecting ring 24 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • This shoulder anchor 26 is adapted to be guided along a guide rail 30 laid on a roof-side of the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
  • This guide rail 30 is provided therein with an anchor groove 32 and a slide groove 34 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof as shown in FIG. 4.
  • An enlarged head portion 36 of the shoulder anchor 26 is received in the anchor groove 32 and movable in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • neck portions 38 between the anchor groove 32 and the slide groove 34 prevent the shoulder anchor 26 from falling off the guide rail 30, to impart the tensile force of the outer webbing 12 to the roof-side 28.
  • a flexible tape 40 is received in the slide groove 34 and movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 30.
  • a multiplicity of holes 42 are penetrated in this flexible tape 40 at suitable intervals in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the intermediate portion of the shoulder anchor 26 penetrates through one of the holes 42. Consequently, when the flexible tape 40 moves in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 30, the shoulder anchor 26 moves in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 30 to thereby fasten the shoulder webbing about the occupant.
  • the shoulder anchor 26 and the connecting ring 24 are covered by a dust cover 43.
  • the guide rail 30 is solidly secured at the intermediate portion to the roof-side 28 by means of a bracket 44 and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
  • the forward end portion of the guide rail 30 in looking from the vehicle descends along a front pillar 46 of the vehicle body, and the rear end portion thereof is suspended along the center pillar 48.
  • the rear end portion of the guide rail 30 is connected thereto with a track 50 and communicated with the slide groove 34.
  • the other end portion of the track 50 is communicated with a sprocket housing 52 secured solidly to the lower portion of the center pillar 48 as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the flexible tape 40 passes through the track 50 and is led to the sprocket housing 52, where it is meshed with a sprocket wheel 56 secured solidly to a shaft 54.
  • the sprocket housing 52 is further communicated with an auxiliary track 58 and guides the flexible tape 40, which has been meshed with the sprocket wheel 56.
  • the guide rail 30 is provided at the forward and rear ends with limit switches 59 for controlling the stroke of the shoulder anchor 26.
  • the intermediate portion of the aforesaid outer webbing 12 passes through a ring 60.
  • This ring 60 is engaged with the forward end portion of the inner webbing 14, and the base portion of the inner webbing 14 is wound into a retractor 62 provided substantially at the center of the vehicle.
  • This retractor 62 winds thereinto the inner webbing 14 by an urging force, however, incorporating therein is an inertia lock mechanism for abruptly stopping the unwinding of the inner webbing 14 in the event of an emergency situation of the vehicle.
  • substantially the total length of the inner webbing 14 is adapted to be wound into the retractor 62, and consequently, a portion of the outer webbing 12 between the ring 60 and the shoulder anchor 26 is fastened about the occupant as shoulder webbing 12A and a portion of the outer webbing 12 between the ring 60 and the buckle device 20 is also fastened about the occupant as a lap webbing 12B, respectively.
  • this inner webbing 14 is inserted through a guide ring 64.
  • this guide ring 64 formed with a C-shaped cut-away portion 66 for allowing the inner webbing 14 to pass through, and rotatably supported on the forward end portion of a guide arm 70 through a shaft 68.
  • Solidly secured to a rotary shaft portion of this guide arm 70 is a center shaft 72, which is rotatably supported on a gear box 74 affixed to the seat 10.
  • a large spur gear 76 which is meshed with a small spur gear 82 of an intermediate shaft 80 rotatably supported on the gear box 74.
  • a large spur gear 84 solidly secured to this intermediate shaft 80 is a large spur gear 84, which is meshed with a small spur gear 88 of an input shaft 86 rotatably supported on the gear box 74.
  • Affixed to the input shaft 86 is a worm wheel 90, which is meshed with a worm 92. This worm 92 is connected to an output shaft of a motor 94.
  • the motor 94 is adapted to impart its rotational force to the center shaft 72 of the guide arm 70 through a gear train including a plurality of gears.
  • the motor 94 rotates the guide arm 70 through a predetermined angle rearward in looking from the vehicle (Refer to the assistant driver's seat in FIG. 1), and, when the occupant opens the door, the motor 94 rotates the guide arm 70 through a predetermined angle forward in looking from the vehicle (Refer to the driver's seat in FIG. 1).
  • a wire 96 Affixed to the input shaft 86, to which an output of the motor 94 is deceleratedly transmitted, is one end of a wire 96, which is a flexible rotary shaft.
  • This wire 96 imparts a rotational force of the input shaft 86 as a rotational force about the axis, being flexible. As shown in FIG. 6, the forward end of this wire 96 is connected to the shaft of the sprocket wheel 56.
  • the motor 94 is adapted to rotate the sprocket wheel 56 in unison with the guide arm 70.
  • the guide arm 70 is rotated rearward in looking from the vehicle, i.e., the occupant closes the door, the wire 96 rotates the shoulder anchor 26 rearward in looking from the vehicle through the flexible tape 40, and, when, reversely, the guide arm 70 is rotated forward in looking from the vehicle, the wire 96 rotates the shoulder anchor 26 forward in looking from the vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 shows the state where the door is opened for allowing the occupant to enter the vehicle.
  • the shoulder anchor 26 has moved to a position close to the forward end portion of the vehicle, and the guide arm 70 has rotated forward in looking from the vehicle, whereby a space for the occupant to enter the vehicle is formed between the seat 10 and the outer and inner webbings 12 and 14.
  • the motor 94 imparts its driving force to the guide arm 70 to rotate the guide arm 70 rearward in looking from the vehicle, and simultaneously, rotates the shoulder anchor 26 along the guide rail 30 rearward in looking from the vehicle, through the wire 96.
  • the remaining portion of the inner webbing 14 is wound into the retractor 62, and the opposite end portions of the outer webbing 12 are automatically fastened about the shoulder and lap of the occupant through the ring 60.
  • the inner webbing 14 can be unwound from the retractor 62, so that the occupant can desirably change his driving posture.
  • the wire 96 having flexibility, can be flexed in accordance with the position of the seat 10, so that the rotational force of the motor 94 can be constantly transmitted to the sprocket wheel 56.
  • the inertia lock mechanism not shown, in the retractor 62 suddenly stop the unwinding of the inner webbing 14, so that the occupant is reliably restrained by the shoulder webbing 12A and the lap webbing 12B, thus enabling to secure the safety of the occupant.
  • the release button 22 of the buckle device 20 if he presses the release button 22 of the buckle device 20, then the outer webbing 12 is released from the door 18, whereby he can unfasten the webbing and open the door 18 to escape from the vehicle to outside.
  • the guide arm 70 rotates about the center shaft 72 forward in looking from the vehicle, the intermediate portion of the inner webbing 14 is elevated, and simultaneously, flexed forward in looking from the vehicle. Therefore, when the inner webbing 14 is unwound in accordance with the opening of the door, it does not slide on the lap of the occupant, so that no comfortable feeling is given to the occupant.
  • a driving force of a motor is imparted to either one of a sprocket wheel for driving a guide arm or an anchor of a webbing for moving the intermediate portion of the webbing, and a rotational force of the motor is imparted as a rotational force of a rotary shaft to the other, so that the present invention can offer such an outstanding advantage that the webbing anchor and the intermediate portion of the webbing are simultaneously driven by a single motor, whereby the occupant can be brought into an automatical and comfortable seatbelt fastened state.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
US06/325,926 1980-12-01 1981-11-30 Automatically fastening seatbelt system Expired - Lifetime US4426102A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1980172374U JPS5794556U (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png) 1980-12-01 1980-12-01
JP55-172374[U] 1980-12-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4426102A true US4426102A (en) 1984-01-17

Family

ID=15940718

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/325,926 Expired - Lifetime US4426102A (en) 1980-12-01 1981-11-30 Automatically fastening seatbelt system

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4426102A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
JP (1) JPS5794556U (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4681346A (en) * 1984-12-12 1987-07-21 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Automatically fastening seatbelt assembly
US4730874A (en) * 1985-09-03 1988-03-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Seat for vehicle
GB2213699A (en) * 1987-12-16 1989-08-23 Gen Engineering Passive safety seat belt arrangement
KR100437297B1 (ko) * 1995-07-06 2004-08-18 로베르트 보쉬 게엠베하 유동매체의질량측정장치
US20120326486A1 (en) * 2010-03-11 2012-12-27 Mbi Co., Ltd. Apparatus for automatically locking and unlocking a vehicle seat belt
CN112918425A (zh) * 2021-03-30 2021-06-08 东风汽车有限公司 安全带锁扣组件及其控制方法和装置

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4681346A (en) * 1984-12-12 1987-07-21 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Automatically fastening seatbelt assembly
US4730874A (en) * 1985-09-03 1988-03-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Seat for vehicle
GB2213699A (en) * 1987-12-16 1989-08-23 Gen Engineering Passive safety seat belt arrangement
KR100437297B1 (ko) * 1995-07-06 2004-08-18 로베르트 보쉬 게엠베하 유동매체의질량측정장치
US20120326486A1 (en) * 2010-03-11 2012-12-27 Mbi Co., Ltd. Apparatus for automatically locking and unlocking a vehicle seat belt
CN112918425A (zh) * 2021-03-30 2021-06-08 东风汽车有限公司 安全带锁扣组件及其控制方法和装置
CN112918425B (zh) * 2021-03-30 2022-07-08 东风汽车有限公司 安全带锁扣组件及其控制方法和装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5794556U (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png) 1982-06-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5123673A (en) Seat belt system for a vehicle seat
US4138142A (en) Passive lap and shoulder belt system
US4313622A (en) Passive seatbelt system
US4317584A (en) Passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system
US4426102A (en) Automatically fastening seatbelt system
US4189170A (en) Three-point passive safety belt system
US4274658A (en) Vehicle occupant restraint system
US4741555A (en) Door mounted transport mechanism for passive three point safety restraint system
US4232885A (en) Passive seatbelt system
JPS5928927Y2 (ja) パツシブシ−トベルト装置
US4437684A (en) Automatic seatbelt system
US4168850A (en) Passive seat belt system
JPS5826848Y2 (ja) シ−トベルト装置
US4268068A (en) Passive seatbelt system
JPH0215000Y2 (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
US4238129A (en) Passive seatbelt system
US4387912A (en) Seatbelt system
GB1329808A (en) Motor vehicle with a mechanically operable safety belt
US4230343A (en) Passive vehicle passenger restraint belt system
JPS6112282Y2 (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
JPS5835560Y2 (ja) パツシブシ−トベルト装置
US4420173A (en) Automatic seatbelt system
JPS6112284Y2 (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
GB2050147A (en) Vehicle passive occupant restraining system
JPS5934539Y2 (ja) シ−トベルト装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, 1, TOYOTACH

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KATSUNO, MITSUAKI;MORIYA, SHIGERU;REEL/FRAME:003957/0027;SIGNING DATES FROM 19811109 TO 19811117

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, PL 96-517 (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M170); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, PL 96-517 (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M171); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 8

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M185); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 12